About Girl Viking
Nina Vanns: Founder of Girl Viking
Nina Vanns' journey is one of passion, creativity and enterprise. She trained as a musician and singer-songwriter, and spent five years working at Ronnie's Jazz Café in London. Later, discovering pole fitness sparked a new direction: Nina went on to create Girl Viking, a retreat experience shaped by movement, artistry and women's empowerment.
The name Girl Viking holds a personal meaning. It reflects Nina's Danish heritage and carries the initials of her late father's name—a tribute woven into the heart of the brand.
Girl Viking began in a beautiful Viking church on the Isle of Portland, a place that set the tone for the retreats that followed. Nina has since taken the experience to the stunning islands of Croatia, with a villa retreat in Málaga next. She prides herself on the creative, striking Viking photo shoots held at the Portland and Croatia retreats, and is excited to bring fresh creative ideas to future retreats.
Movement and learning have always been central to Nina's work. Her background spans multi-style yoga, Pilates and reformer fitness, pole fitness, personal training, Level 4 exercise, sports science, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, Thai massage, acupuncture and fascia release. Her yoga path began with teachings in India and has continued to grow through her exploration of traditional shamanic practices.
Nina's vision is for retreats that feel earthy, powerful and welcoming, with reasonable prices, excellent instructors and elite pole athletes. Imogen Gunter teaches every retreat alongside a changing group of guest instructors.
Nina also created Odonanta, her healing and retreat venture. Alongside her great friend Carlie, she travels to and from the Amazon and runs healing retreats. Nina's time learning with shamans in the Amazon has shaped her path and informs the healing experiences she offers.
At the heart of all Nina's work is a desire to help people connect with their strength, creativity and sense of self through movement, healing and shared experience.
Qualifications & Expertise
- Sports Science
- Personal Training
- Exercise to Music
- Anatomy & Physiology (Levels 3 & 4)
- Reformer Pilates (Levels 1–3)
- Pole Fitness Instructor (10+ years)
- Kambo Healing Practitioner
- Advanced Aesthetic Practitioner
- Pilates APPI
- Nutrition
- Thai massage
- Multi style yoga
At Girl Viking, Nina's mission is to create a sanctuary where clients can heal, grow, and invest in their self-care journey, guided by skilled professionals every step of the way.